ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – Long Island Catholics are celebrating the new Pope Francis with prayer at the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

“I think he’s going to listen to the people and I think that’s what we need. The church is, you know, too many people have left,” worshiper Shirley Perry told WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs.

The Bishop there, William Murphy, called Pope Francis a holy, humble man open to the people.

Long Island Catholics Welcome New Pope Francis

Many there praised the decision to choose a new church leader from outside Europe and believe it’ll be a good thing.

“That they went to the new world, so it’s a good thing, so I hope so, I sure hope so. It looks like it will be,” said one woman.

Parishioner Jim Romaker praised him as a holy man with moxy.

“A guy that wasn’t afraid to walk the streets of his hometown and do things a little bit differently. ‘I don’t need the limos. I don’t need pomp and circumstance.’ I don’t know if it’s going to make a difference up there in the Vatican, but, you know what, maybe it’s a little breath of fresh air,” he told Xirinachs.